Tolaga’s beach looking great

Tolaga Bay beach at the wharf end is clear at last as the slash and debris clearing operation now heads west of the rivermouth.

The sand was covered in logs after the June flood.

The southern part of Tolaga Bay beach has been completely cleared, from the wharf up to the dotterel colony at the river mouth.

People can now access the beach, which is looking great, and the operation is now moving up towards the surf club, says contractor Sheldon Drummond.

It is hoped the clearing of flood slash will be completed before Christmas, but it will be dependent on weather conditions, including the fire risk assessment.

There have been a few delays because of changing wind conditions, which enabled the contractor to work along the beach and prepare piles of wood for burning. Consideration is also given to night-time burning to keep progress going.

Mr Drummond said the community had been helpful in staying off the beach in the operational area, and supporting us with accommodation.”

By the end of next week, he hopes to have new fan equipment in action.

This has been built by Gisborne engineering company Universal Engineering, to provide a fit-for-purpose machine that is more mobile.

Uawanui project co-ordinator Alison Waru is pleased the clean-up has progressed so quickly without too many dramas, and that Mr Drummond and his team have been diligent and stoic in their task of clearing the beach.

“Sheldon was also mindful of the breeding and nesting areas of our tuturiwhatu (dotterels) and pingao re-vegetation adjacent to Kaitawa sandspit and took steps to ensure their preservation.

“I am positive that the collaboration of Uawanui, Te Aitanga a Hauiti Centre of Excellence, Tolaga Bay Holiday Park, Surf Life Saving Club, NZ Fire Service, Forestry, Gisborne District Council and our wider community of Uawa-Tolaga Bay will contribute to our community moving forward from the June flood, and will prepare our beautiful beach not only for the thousands of tourists who flock to our shores every summer, but also for our own Iwi, whanau and community to enjoy again.”

Manager of the clean-up operation, Ian Brown from Hikurangi Forest Farms, and chief executive of Eastland Wood Council Kim Holland, said the beach was looking great and will be ready for summer.

The southern part of Tolaga Bay beach has been completely cleared, from the wharf up to the dotterel colony at the river mouth.

People can now access the beach, which is looking great, and the operation is now moving up towards the surf club, says contractor Sheldon Drummond.

It is hoped the clearing of flood slash will be completed before Christmas, but it will be dependent on weather conditions, including the fire risk assessment.

There have been a few delays because of changing wind conditions, which enabled the contractor to work along the beach and prepare piles of wood for burning. Consideration is also given to night-time burning to keep progress going.

Mr Drummond said the community had been helpful in staying off the beach in the operational area, and supporting us with accommodation.”

By the end of next week, he hopes to have new fan equipment in action.

This has been built by Gisborne engineering company Universal Engineering, to provide a fit-for-purpose machine that is more mobile.

Uawanui project co-ordinator Alison Waru is pleased the clean-up has progressed so quickly without too many dramas, and that Mr Drummond and his team have been diligent and stoic in their task of clearing the beach.

“Sheldon was also mindful of the breeding and nesting areas of our tuturiwhatu (dotterels) and pingao re-vegetation adjacent to Kaitawa sandspit and took steps to ensure their preservation.

“I am positive that the collaboration of Uawanui, Te Aitanga a Hauiti Centre of Excellence, Tolaga Bay Holiday Park, Surf Life Saving Club, NZ Fire Service, Forestry, Gisborne District Council and our wider community of Uawa-Tolaga Bay will contribute to our community moving forward from the June flood, and will prepare our beautiful beach not only for the thousands of tourists who flock to our shores every summer, but also for our own Iwi, whanau and community to enjoy again.”

Manager of the clean-up operation, Ian Brown from Hikurangi Forest Farms, and chief executive of Eastland Wood Council Kim Holland, said the beach was looking great and will be ready for summer.